Re: [Killietalk] Disinfection Questions

[Charles Harrison <charles at inkmkr_com>]

At 1:06 AM -0500 11/2/05, Sandy1238 at aol_com wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>How do different members go about disinfecting spawning mops and sponge 
>filters? Would you go as far as disinfecting or 
>boiling good quality fibrous  peat
>and using it again? Your answers would be appreciated.

Over the years I have come up with one too many 
"transmitted via mop or sponge filter" maladies 
to seriously recommend any method to disinfecting 
them. If the source is in any way questionable - 
from a well meaning friend, a fellow Aquarium 
Club member just getting out of the fish or most 
"Outside" donations, I just thank them, accept 
the item and pitch it when I get home.

A skein of yarn is about $3 and it makes a dozen 
+ mops and I KNOW there isn't a parasite on any 
of them. I have lost a single pair of $35  Aph. 
whatsit putting in a couple of mops in their tank 
from the show or auction left behind only to 
infect them with the parasite of the month. I 
rinsed them out with HOT water, left them in the 
boiling water for 5 min. but still not everything 
got disinfected.

As for sponge filters - again if from that well 
meaning friend - toss it. $4 to $6 for a sponge 
for a filter vs. any amount of money for a fish 
that just isn't around any more just isn't worth 
it.

If I have had an infection from adjacent tanks 
and fear there may be some chance of spreading, I 
toss it.

On the other hand, if I am moving a mop from one 
species tank or location to another, I rinse it 
out in the sink in tap water as hot as I can 
stand and then heat the wet mop in the microwave 
long enough to really get it steamy and then let 
it dry out for a day or 3. Much more heat than 
that tends to kink the threads and makes it 
useless.

I rinse the sponges under a stream of hot tap 
water until the water runs clear and allow it to 
dry completely before I use it again.

I can usually squeeze 7¢ out of a nickle but when 
it comes to these 2 items much better safe than 
sorry.

See you soon Sandy!

Charles Harrison

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